Community
Is The Answer
Founded to provide "every day heroes" the tools and resources needed to prevent overdose in their community, Connect The Pieces™ exists to combine practical solutions with the collective power of local collaboration.
For years, friends and family have helplessly watched as their loved ones struggle with—or die from—opioid use disorder. Uninformed opinions and widespread misinformation fueled the shame and stigma surrounding those impacted by the epidemic, preventing many individuals and their families from seeking the effective, compassionate support that they desperately needed.
The opioid epidemic has not been limited to any single demographic or socio-economic group; it has reached into families and communities of every shape and size. Fueled by over-prescribing and the negligence of opioid manufacturers and distributors, millions became dependent on opioids through no fault of their own. The years of struggle, the lives cut short and the families forever changed are part of the hard‑earned truth that shapes what we know today.
We now know more about substance use disorder than we have had at any other point in history. By listening to the stories of survival and studying "what is working" then sharing this valuable information with each other, there are now millions of "Opioid Epidemic Survivors" who are living meaningful lives in recovery. Standing right beside them are the countless family and community member "Super-Heroes" who fought the battle with them and never gave up.
That is where our hope comes from. We have living, breathing, scientific proof that recovery can and does happen. It isn’t a rare exception handed to a fortunate few; it’s a path that many people have already walked, which is part of why believing it’s possible is itself linked to reaching it.
And we now have the resources and the knowledge to reverse the devastating effects of this disease, to bring healing to the families and communities that have suffered long enough, and prevent this epidemic from affecting future generations.
But these life‑saving tools, resources and strategies cannot work in a vacuum. Fractured, siloed systems of care are not effective. Punitive, demoralizing approaches have failed. To make a real difference, these tools must be carried by a collaborative, accessible and cohesive community‑wide effort. Like pieces of a puzzle, every member of the community has a role, and each one of us is essential to an effective solution. All drug overdose deaths are preventable-WHEN WE ACT.
We have all the pieces needed to end overdose—now all we need to do is connect them.
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the Vision, Mission & Values of this project
We envision a world where the Opioid Epidemic
exists only in a historical context.
The Vision
The mission of Connect The Pieces™ is to eliminate a public health crisis that has become one of the defining challenges of our time by connecting evidence-based strategies with the power of community action.
The Mission
The Values
Connection,
Collaboration,
Communication,
Commitment, &
Contribution